EVALUATION OF MOBILE DEVICE INDOOR MAPS FOR ORIENTATION TASKS

Abstract This research investigates subjective user preference for using Floor Plans and Schematic Maps in an indoor environment, and how users locate and orient themselves when using these representations. We sought to verify the efficiency of these two kinds of digital maps and evaluate which elements found in physical environments and which elements found in the representations influence the user spatial orientation process. Users answered questions and performed orientation tasks which indicated their level of familiarity with the area being studied, their understanding of the symbology used, and their identification of Points of Interest (POI) in the environment. The initial results indicated a preference for the Schematic Map, because users thought that the symbology used on the map adopted was easy to understand.

摘要 本研究针对用户在室内环境中使用平面图（Floor Plans）与示意图（Schematic Maps）时的主观偏好，以及借助这两类表征载体完成空间定位与定向的行为展开调查。本研究旨在验证这两类数字地图的使用效率，并评估实体环境与地图表征中的哪些元素会对用户的空间定向过程产生影响。受试者需完成问卷作答与定向任务，以此反映其对研究区域的熟悉程度、对地图所采用符号体系的理解程度，以及对环境中兴趣点（Points of Interest, POI）的识别能力。初步研究结果表明，用户更倾向于选择示意图，原因在于其认为该地图所采用的符号体系更易于理解。